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Three major Saudi Internet service providers (ISP) recently signed a merger agreement for creating the largest coalition in the ISP sector in the Kingdom, reported Al-Sharq Al-Awsat . The Naseej Company, the International Internet and Telecommunication Company and the Faisalia Internet Service and Technology Company (Awal Net) have formed an ISP alliance that is expected to supply support for 30 percent of Internet users in the Kingdom.

The total number of Internet subscribers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reached 690,000 in April 2001 and 900,000 in December of the same year, occupying the fourth position in the world in terms of Internet growth, with local figures reaching 276 percent.

Saudi Arabia, with a population of 19 million people, has the lowest Internet use rate in the Gulf and is 10th among Arab countries for percentage of Internet subscribers. There are approximately 24 private Internet service providers in the kingdom. Internet service in Saudi Arabia is closely monitored and sites deemed inappropriate by the government are blocked by a proxy server. — (menareport.com)